Construction Manager

About the Role

A-BIO is seeking a Construction Manager to serve as the owner’s representative on construction sites, overseeing general contractors (GCs) and subcontractors to ensure the successful delivery of capital projects within the biopharmaceutical sector. This role is ideal for an experienced construction professional with a strong foundation in field construction management and contractor oversight, ready to take on increasing responsibility in complex, high-impact capital engagements in regulated environments. The Construction Manager will support client projects in the Rockville, Frederick, and Baltimore, Maryland areas across biopharmaceutical facility types, including cGMP manufacturing suites, cleanrooms, utility systems, and laboratory spaces.

Responsibilities

• Construction Oversight, Contractor Management & Compliance
  • Serve as the owner’s representative on construction sites, holding GCs and subcontractors accountable to contract scope, schedule, budget, quality, and safety requirements through regular site walks, inspections, and daily field reporting.
  • Monitor construction progress against approved schedules and budgets; review GC-submitted schedules and look-ahead plans, manage RFIs and submittals, and drive corrective action to keep projects on track.
  • Lead construction coordination meetings and look-ahead planning sessions; manage the change order process, field change controls in cGMP environments, and quality hold points to ensure regulatory and contract compliance.
  • Support CQV transition activities including system turnover, punch list resolution, and contractor close-out; escalate GC and subcontractor performance issues with supporting documentation and recommended remedies.
• Client Reporting & Project Controls
  • Serve as the owner's primary point of contact for construction status, delivering regular written and verbal updates to client leadership on schedule performance, budget status, risk exposure, and key decisions.
  • Develop and maintain project controls documentation including master schedules, cost trackers, budget forecasts, and contingency logs on behalf of the owner.
  • Prepare and distribute construction status reports, executive summaries, and dashboard updates at cadences defined by the client — weekly, monthly, and milestone-based.
  • Maintain a project risk register; proactively identify construction risks, quantify potential schedule and cost impact, develop mitigation strategies, and report status to client stakeholders.
  • Lead or support owner's steering committee meetings, client project reviews, and executive briefings — preparing agendas, materials, and action item logs.
  • Track and report on all owner-directed changes, budget amendments, and contingency draws; maintain a clear audit trail of decisions and approvals.
  • Coordinate with the A-BIO project team and client finance or facilities groups to ensure alignment on cost reporting formats, approval workflows, and project documentation standards.
• Procurement & Contract Administration
  • Support the development of construction scopes of work, bid packages, and RFPs for GC and subcontractor procurement.
  • Participate in bid evaluations, pre-bid site walks, and contractor interviews; provide field-level input on contractor qualifications and proposed approaches.
  • Administer construction contracts on behalf of the owner — tracking deliverables, insurance certificates, lien waivers, and other required submittals.
  • Review and validate contractor pay applications against actual work-in-place; provide recommendations for approval or rejection with supporting documentation.
  • Coordinate with the owner’s project team on equipment delivery, installation sequencing, and material management on site.
• Professional Growth
  • Develop and enhance capabilities across capital project construction management, contractor oversight, cGMP facility builds, and owner’s representative services.
  • Engage in ongoing learning within the life sciences construction sector to stay current with industry standards, building codes, and best practices.
  • Contribute to A-BIO’s internal knowledge base, process improvement initiatives, and proposal development efforts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and demonstrated experience.
• Minimum of 6 years of field construction management or owner’s representative experience, with demonstrated responsibility for overseeing GCs and subcontractors on capital projects.
• Proven ability to hold general contractors and subcontractors accountable to contract scope, schedule, budget, quality, and safety requirements.
• Experience managing construction in regulated environments, including cGMP, pharmaceutical, biotech, or other highly regulated facility types preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of construction contract administration, RFI/submittal management, change order evaluation, and pay application review.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, and engineering documentation.
• Experience preparing client-facing project status reports, budget trackers, schedule updates, and risk registers on behalf of the owner.
• Proficiency in construction management and project controls tools including Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud, MS Project, Bluebeam, Excel, and related applications.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel to client sites in the Maryland area based on project location.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey field conditions, risks, and recommendations to diverse stakeholders.
• Outstanding organizational and documentation skills, with meticulous attention to site records, inspection reports, and correspondence.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build working relationships with contractors, client staff, and project teams while driving accountability.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years of construction management or owner’s representative experience on capital projects in the life sciences, biotech, pharmaceutical, or similarly regulated sector.
• Experience delivering cGMP manufacturing facilities, cleanrooms, process utility systems, or laboratory fit-outs.
• Familiarity with Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) processes and owner’s acceptance of construction turnover packages.
• Experience managing MEPS (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and specialty) subcontractors in complex facility environments.
• Knowledge of change control processes in GMP facility construction and renovation projects.
• Construction Management Professional (CMP), Project Management Professional (PMP), or OSHA 30 certification.
• Active engagement in construction or life sciences industry organizations, reflecting a commitment to professional growth and staying current on industry trends.
• Willingness to travel within the United States as required based on project locations and client needs.

About A-BIO

A-BIO is an owner’s representative consulting firm focused on project management and technical services within the technical operations of biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Our clients range from start-up cell and gene therapy companies to multi-national major pharmaceutical companies, with projects spanning the construction, retrofit, and operations of biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. A-BIO has been serving the life sciences sector since 2014, leveraging over 200 years of combined owner’s-side experience to help clients define and meet their goals for capital project execution and operational readiness.

Benefits

• Work on high-impact capital construction projects across the biopharmaceutical and life sciences sector, directly supporting the development and manufacturing of critical therapies for patients worldwide.
• Access to A-BIO’s team of process engineering, automation, and project management experts, with over 200 years of combined biopharma operations and capital project experience.
• A clear path for professional growth — the Construction Manager role is a launching pad toward Senior Construction Manager and beyond, with mentorship and exposure to increasingly complex capital projects.
• Exposure to cutting-edge biopharmaceutical modalities including gene therapy, cell therapy, mRNA, recombinant proteins, and vaccines across a variety of client facility environments.
• Collaborative, owner’s-side culture that values technical depth, professional growth, and meaningful client relationships.
• Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and professional development and certification reimbursement (including PMP and CMP support).

Work Environment

• Active construction sites including biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, cleanrooms, mechanical and utility areas, and laboratory build-outs; PPE required at all times per site safety plan.
• Regular travel to client construction sites in Rockville, Frederick, and Baltimore, MD; occasional travel to vendor or contractor facilities for factory acceptance and related activities.
• May require flexible hours during critical construction milestones, system commissioning, or project close-out activities.